Gearing up for the launch of diabetes and heart failure drug Jardiance in chronic kidney disease, Boehringer Ingelheim has already started 2023 by posting strong pharma sales growth.
The German drugmaker reported a 9.7% jump in overall sales over the first half of 2023, largely thanks to growth in Eli Lilly-partnered SGLT2 inhibitor Jardiance. Human pharmaceutical products made up 9.6 billion euros ($10.5 billion) of the total sales haul, good for 11.3% growth, with animal health products contributing the rest of Boehringer’s 12.2 billion euros ($13.2 billion) in total revenue.
The Jardiance franchise generated 3.5 billion euros ($3.83 billion) for Boehringer over this year’s first half. Looking forward, the company expects further growth as Jardiance progresses in chronic kidney disease (CKD), with a U.S. decision expected to come later this year following a recent European Commission go-ahead. In a late-stage trial, the drug was the first SGLT2 inhibitor to post a reduction in all-cause hospitalizations for CKD patients while reducing disease progression or death by 28% compared with placebo.
An FDA nod would add to Jardiance’s wide reach, which already includes Type 2 diabetes and heart failure. Later this year, the company will report data from the drug's phase 3 trial in myocardial infarction.
Aside from its Jardiance performance, Boehringer celebrated the fact that it inked 15 new R&D partnerships. Those target fields such as cancer, immunology, fibrotic lung diseases and retinal diseases.
Meanwhile, the company's PDE4B inhibitor has moved into phase 3 trials in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and progressive pulmonary fibrosis.
“Persistent and above-average investments in our pipeline during the last years have resulted in many new treatment options for patients in the years to come, thus transforming lives for generations,” Boehringer's chairman of the board, Hubertus von Baumbach, noted in the company's release.
Elsewhere, Boehringer’s Humira biosimilar recently launched as the first interchangeable option in the U.S. The company is currently pricing the med 5% to 7% below Humira’s list price but will turn to a two-price strategy in 2024.